Charlton and Hull likely to face FA charges over mass brawl

The Football Association has confirmed that it will be investigating the mass brawl which marred Tuesday night's Championship game between Hull City and Charlton Athletic.

The referee at the KC Stadium, Anthony Taylor, reduced both sides to 10 men shortly before half-time when dismissing the Hull captain, Ian Ashbee, and the Charlton winger Lloyd Sam following an ugly altercation. Ashbee's heavy tackle on Sam led to the pair grappling with one another and triggered a fracas which involved players, substitutes and coaching staff, including the Charlton manager, Alan Pardew.

Both clubs look almost certain to face a charge of failing to control their players following a fiery encounter which Charlton won 2-1. An FA spokesman confirmed that the incident will be investigated and video evidence considered.

The Hull manager, Phil Brown, may also have landed himself in trouble after claiming that Taylor made "a lot of poor decisions" and allowed himself to be talked into dismissing Ashbee by Charlton's players. Pardew claimed that he was trying to separate Hull's Dean Windass and Charlton's Jonathan Fortune when he came on to the pitch.

Both clubs are expected to appeal the three-match bans which automatically follow the dismissals of Ashbee and Sam for violent conduct.